Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Eustis Mustang Jazz Ensemble

The
Eustis Middle School Jazz Ensemble has been in existence since 1997 as a
part of the EMS Band programs. The band consists of seventh and eighth
grade band students selected through an audition process. These students
also participate in the advanced concert band and marching band. The
jazz ensemble has the traditional instrumentation of saxophones,
trumpets, trombones, and rhythm section. This group rehearses daily with
emphasis on jazz styles, articulations, improvisation, rhythms,
terminology, and listening skills. This group plays a variety of big
band styles like swing, Latin, and jazz rock.
In 2004 the ensemble attended the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, receiving straight Superior ratings and first
place in the Middle School Jazz Ensemble category.
In 2005 this group attended the Fiesta-val Invitational Music
Festival in Williamsburg, VA receiving straight Superior ratings,
Outstanding Achievement Awards for the saxophone, brass, and rhythm
sections, Outstanding Soloist award, the First Place Jazz Ensemble
award, and the Champion Jazz Ensemble award.
In 2006 the group attended the Fiesta-val Music Festival in Myrtle
Beach SC where they received a Superior rating and First Place for their
division. The Eustis Middle Mustang Jazz Ensemble also played for over
1000 Fiesta-val musician participants at the invitation of John Savage,
National Director of Fiesta-val Music Festivals. This was a first for
the festival.
In 2007 the Eustis Middle School Mustang Jazz Band competed at the
Lakeside Jazz Festival in Port Orange, Florida and received a Superior
rating as well as the Most Outstanding Middle School Band Award.
The Jazz Band participated in the Dixie Music Classic Music Festival
at Virginia Beach in May of 2007. The jazz band was ranked first in
their division and received straight superior ratings.
The EMS Jazz Ensemble traveled to the Fiesta-val Music Festival in
Washington DC in 2008. They received straight Superior ratings and First
Place in the Middle School Jazz Ensemble Division, Jazz Champions,
Outstanding saxophone section, Outstanding Brass section, Outstanding
trumpet, tenor saxophone, and trombone soloist.
The Jazz Band participated in the Dixie Music Classic Music Festival
at Atlanta in May of 2009. The jazz band was ranked first in their
division and received straight superior ratings. Three soloists received
Festival Honor Awards of Distinction.
These distinctive awards add to the awards received by the Eustis
Middle School Band program each year which include straight Superior
ratings for both the Jazz Band and Concert Band at the Florida
Bandmasters District 19 Music Performance Assessment for the last nine
years.
The band has been invited to perform for many different organizations
and events throughout the past years including the Lake County
Education Foundation, the Teacher of the Year Banquet, Jazz in Ferran
Park, Kiwanis, Universal Studios, Washington’s Birthday Parade, Eustis
Art Festival, Orlando Magic, L.C. Swing Band, the Eustis Rotary as well
as numerous other organizations. The band performs throughout the Golden
Triangle area approximately twenty times a year.